Columbia needs a social worker to lead The School of Social Work

It is inappropriate and disrespectful to appoint a non-social work dean as head of the Columbia School of Social Work. Why is Columbia offering a social work major to students if no social work graduate is deemed fit to head the School of Social Work? This new dean who is not a social worker will not have the knowledge or skills to lead the School of Social Work.

The school of Social Work should have a Dean with a background in social work!

Social work is a critical profession and requires someone who has earned this degree, worked in the field, and has a proven track record of upholding social work values. Please honor the SW profession by appointing an actual SOCIAL WORKER as dean.

A social worker should absolutely be in the position Dean of the school of social work. It is a serious undermining of our profession to go outside the social work profession. This has NOTHING to do with the candidate's capabilities. It is a matter of professional principle that a Social Worker should be Dean of CUSSW.

I attended Columbia for my MSW and served as a Dean at a Social work school. This is just another step by faculty and administrators who never practiced to undermine the central mission of a school of social work.

It's important and necessary that a person with an advanced degree in social work led the school of social work. I'm shocked that anyone else would even be considered, no matter how much of a "social worker heart," they have. I hope that you will reconsider this action. Sincerely, Karen Quinn, LCSW

This was obviously a political appointment. A non-social worker will not have the knowledge or experience to maintain nor grow Columbia's social work program.

Please do not dishonor our profession by appointing a non Social Worker.

I strongly disagree with this appointment.

Years ago the cswe board of directors discussed requiring social work program deans and directors to be social workers. I argued strongly in the affirmative but was overruled. This is an example of cswe chickens coming home to roost. Speak to the cswe about this so it does not happen again.

As a graduate of Social Work from the University of Georgia and a LCSW for 30 years I strongly believe that a social worker should be the Dean. Being a social worker is a special calling, education, values and identity. I would not attend a program which did not have a social worker as dean.

Having graduated from Columbia, I am really disappointed with their decision.

I agree with many of my colleagues. Social work is an exceptional and unique professional that is best lead by a Social Worker

We in Oregon and countless other states have fought hard to ensure that non-social workers cannot represent themselves as social workers. This appointment erodes and has the potential to derail our efforts at defining our professional identity.

As a graduate from the Columbia University School of Social Work, I find it outrageous to have anyone who is not a professional social worker appointed to lead the school. Would you appoint a medical doctor to head the School of Law? This is yet another example of disrespect for our work and our professionalism. We need a member of our own profession to lead us.

It is highly inappropriate for someone without an advanced degree is Social work to serve at the Dean of the CUSSW. There are many qualified social workers for this position! Titally disagree with this decision.

As accomplished as Dr. Begg is, she is NOT qualified to be the Dean of the Social Work program without an advanced degree in Social Work. Please appoint someone who has real social work experience AND education. This appointment is unacceptable.

I cannot know the qualifications of this new Dean. However, I would have to question the decision by Columbia to install anyone in this position who has no PhD or even a Master's Degree in Social Work. I find the entire issue very questionable on its face.

How senseless for Columbia University to do. Social workers should lead social workers, period.

Only a person with a graduate degree in Social Work and a license to practice is qualified for this position. This appointment should disqualify the Columbia School of Social Work as a valid program.